Nailing machine



April 26, 1932. F LJMACKENZIE 1,855,405

NAILING MACHINE Filed July 24, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1.

" A ril 26,1932.

F. LA MACKENZIE NAILING MACHINE Filed July 24, 1928 Fig.2

2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITE stares: PAT oFFmE EnEn L.MACKENZIE, E BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 uNI'rEn snoE" MACHINERYc-onronerron; 0E PATEn soN, NEW JEEsEY,'A conPoE'ArIoNo'E NEW JERSEYApplication filed. July 24,

My invention relates to nailing machines, of whichan example isfurnished by those employed for attaching-heels to shoes. The inventionconcerns more particularly the supplying apparatus of these machines, bywhich nails are delivered from a source to the nailing mechanism; 7

Objects of theinvention are to improve lo the delivering device of thesupplying apparatus, which may be furnished by a slotted plate andwhichseparates nails one by one or group by group from araceway orraceways each preferablyarranged to condu'ct'a I lfi series of nailshanging by th'eir'heads. In theattainment of this object, I associatewith the separating" device means for moving it, as a spring,.retainingmeans, as a'latch, and means arranged to release the retaining 2(i meansand leave the separating device free to act. The releasing meansispreferably a member under the control "of the operator,

and is shown as a treadle connectedto the latch. Thisoperator-controlled member may also govern the operation of the nailingmechanism by causing its connection to power actuating mechanism, asthrough a clutch. The action'of the separating device may beinitiated,for exampleby, putting its spring 3t under tension, through such meansas an operator-controlled lever, which also governs means fortransferring the separated nails to the nailing or fastening-insertingmechanism. The elements are so related that a second delivery offastenings is prevented until those previously delivered. have beeninserted. Since some such element as a spring is prefer ably utilizedfor producing movement of the separating device, full travel of thisdevice, 49 eiiected by the spring after opposite or spring-energizingmovement, might give too great momentum and resui ing nail-displacingshock when the end of its path is reached.

I preferto retain control of the separating device by the initial movingmeans during a portion of its separating and delivering movement. Thiscontrol may betermmated when the device is latchedl After release, the

spring may act independently of the initial moving means. To insureaccurate'co-opera NAILING MACHINE 1928. Serial No. 295,086;

tion of the separating device with its raceway, it is shown as mountedupon 'a 'movable carrier, there being-interposed means, shown as aneccentric device, for varying the posi tion ofthe separator upon thecarrier, andtherefore its relation to the raceway, and re taining saidseparator in-its adjustedposig tion. It'may be desiredto cause the operathe manner of actuation andth'e control of apparatus may be madeeifective or inelifec tive. In additionto the clutch whiclfcom trols thenailing mechanism, power is also furnished to the nail-supplyingapparatus through a clutch in which driven member" is normally urgedtoward a-driving member, as by a spring.'- As movement' is not to becontinuously transmittedwhile the spring is efi'ective, something-mustbe included in =the connections, as a: friction device, which-willpermit relative'rotatio'n between the elements at the drivingand-drivensides of the clutch! Inthis'way, undue weanmaybe introduced while thefriction isslip'pingi Toav'oid' such an efiect, there is providedautomatic-means for moving the driven member away from f the drivingmember, this being-shownas ineluding a cam acting against thespring. Toobtain correct timing oft-he automatic means,

I operate it" from the 'drivenielementof the clutch mechanism, and toinsure the comple tion ofthe disengagementofthe driven mem-' her, thepowerof'the clutch is supplemented by other power means," as *a springinitially tensioned' and preferably further tensioned" while the'clutch'is being disengaged, an'dex erting its force to'complete' the Idisengagement. The efiec't'of thespring may be'varied by means adaptedto adjust'its initial ten m the accompanying. drawings is illustrated aparticular embodiment'of the inventiong';

Fig. 1 showingab'roken-side elevationof a heel-attaching machine towhich my invention is applied;

Fig. 2 being a partial front elevation, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3, an enlarged broken top plan view of the nail-separatingmechanism;

Fig. 4, a detail in vertical section through one of the adjustingdevices for theseparating plate;

Fig. 5, an enlarged vertical section on the line V-V of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6, a longitudinal section on the line VIVI of Fig. 5, but showingthe full length of the supplemental clutch-shifting mechamsm.

The heeling machine disclosed is generally of the type illustrated inLetters Patent of the United States N 0. 1,545,575, Standish, July 14,1925. Upon a frame 10 is mounted a jack 12, in vertical passages inwhich reciprocate nail-inserting drivers 14. The drivers are actuatedfrom a power-shaft 16, journaled in the frame, through clutch mechanism18 controlled by a treadle 20. Cooperating with the jack is a head orpressureabutment 22 movable into contact with a heel applied to a jackedshoe for the purpose of resisting the driving force exerted upon theattaching nails. This head is brought into contact with the work byconnections 23 to the treadle, acting before the clutch is tri ped.

11 its more essential particulars, the apparatus which supplies nails tothe passages of the jack 12 resembles that of the application filed inthe United States Patent Office on October 24, 1924,'in the name of JohnM. Benjamin, and bearing the Serial No. 745,684. The nails, which maybeof different sizes, are delivered from drums 24, 24 of a distributingmechanism to slotted raceways 26 (Fig. 3) and slide down these hangingby their heads." A separating device A, associated with each set ofraceways, picks off the nails in successive groups, each furnishing aload which is to attach a heel. A device 28 associated With'each racewayreverses the sepa rated nails, so they fall points up into one of a setof tubes 30, and then through a footplate 32, in which the tubesterminate, into openings in a loader-block 34, by which they aretransferred to the driver-passages in the jack. The foot-plate ispreferably mounted upon an arm pivoted upon the frame. This enables theoperator to readily swing back the foot-plate to allow inspection of theloader-block and the freeing of clogged nails. The tubes 30 may beflexible to facilitate this movement. In the loader-block-openings, thenails are temporarily retained by a shutter 36 mounted to move at theunder sideof the block and normally held in nail-retaining relation by aspring 37. Contact of the shutter with the jack in the nail-deliveringposition causes therelease of the nails.

The loader-block is moved from the nailreceiving position beneath thefoot-plate to the nail-delivering position over the ack by areciprocatory bar 38 mounted to slide horizontally in the frame, andupon the forward extremity of which the block is carried. On the underside of the bar is formed a rack 39, with which meshes a gear 40 upon ashaft 42 rotatable in the frame above the main shaft 16. A frictiondevice 44 (Fig. 2) connects the gear to the shaft to cause them to turntogether, yet permits the gear to be held against movement while therotation of the shaft continues. Rotated by and movable longitudinallyof the shaft 42 is a driven member 46 of clutch mechanism C. Loose uponthe shaft are driving clutch members 48 and 50, turned respectively inopposite directions by connections 52 from the shaft 16 andbevel-gearing 54. By the clutch mechanism O, the shaft 42 may be rotatedto carry the loader-block to either of its extremes of movement beneaththe foot-plate and above the jack, the friction 44 slipping when theseare reached. Through a bore in the shaft 42 passes a rod 56 joined atone end to the clutch member 46 and at the other to a block 58, in whichit is free to turn. The block is trunnioned in a yoke formed in a lever60 fulcrumed at 62 upon the frame. A tensionspring 64, extending betweenthe lever and frame, urges the driven member 46 toward the drivingmember 48, so that, when the lever is released by the operator, suchengagement of the clutch will be produced as to carry the loader-blockrearwardly to its nail-receiving position. When the lever is moved tothe left against the tension of the spring 64, the driven clutch memberis first carried away from the driving member 48, from which, however,it has been disengaged by means to be hereinafter described, whichmodifies the action of the spring 64, and then is brought intoengagement with the reversely rotating driving member 50. This causes aforward movement of the loaderblock to its nail-delivering positionabove the jack. In this shift of the lever, a projection 66 upon itsside is withdrawn from a depression in the adjacent face of a cam-disk68 upon the shaft 42. A one-way clutch-connection 70 (Fig. 1) which maybe of the Horton type, transmits the rotation of the shaft to the diskonly when the loader-block is being advanced. After the removal of theprojection from the depression, as a result of the outward movement ofthe lever by the operator, the disk, turned by the shaft, carries thedepression away from the projection 66. So, when the lever is released,the projection 66 rests against the outer face of the disk and theclutch members 46 and 50 are held locked in engagement until, at the endof a single rotation, the depression again reaches the projection, whichenters it and allows the spring 64 to disconnect the driven:

er yieldable through an opening in the lever against a spring 72. Thiscapacity of the projection for yield reduces the shocks to which theco-operating elements may be subjected upon change of position of thelever. As the disk 68 rotates, ,its cam-periphery acts to swing abell-crank lever 7 4 fulcrumed upon the. frame, Thiselevates a rod 76against a spring 78 and moves about their fulcra, at the bottom of thedistributor-frame, two bell-cranklevers 80, 80,..eaeh of which is joinedby a link 82, slotted at 83, to one of the separating mechanisms A.Aturnbuckle 84in the rod 76 permits the time of when of connectionsbetween the cam and separating devices to be varied. These separatorsand the effect which they produce will be later described.

When the loader-block is in its rearward position beneath the.foot-plate 32, with bllv driven member 46 of the clutch C connected I tothe driving member 48, it is clear that the friction device 44 must slipcontinuously. To avoid undue wear of the friction-surfaces,

the machine includes means for shifting the Y driven memberto a neutralposition after the withdrawal of the loader block has been completed.Extending horizontally from the frame 10. below the lever 60. is a fixedspindle 86 (Fig. 6) about which is free to turn gear 88 meshing with apinion 90 fast uponthe shaft 42 and having a long hub 89. In the gear isan arcuate slot 92 receiving a pro ection 94 from the adjacent face ofdisk 96 loose upon the hub of the gear; Surrounding the hub of the disk,oppositethe gear, is a torsion-spring-98 connected at one extremity tothe gear and at the other to a disk 100 surrounding the gear-hub. Th1sdisk 100 is adjustably secured to the gear, so its angular relation.thereon may be altered and the normal spring-tension varied, by a pin102 passing into some one of a series of horizontal openings near itsperiphery and an opening in an. outer disk 104 keyed to the hub of saidgear. The face of the disk 96 opposite the gear 88 hasa cam-projection106., which. as it diverges from the disk rearwardly (Fig. 2) has firsta somewhat steeply inclined contactsurface 108 and then a more gradualincline 110 leading to the point of maximum projection. With theprojection 106 co-operates a roll 112 rotatable upon the inner side ofthe clutch controlling lever 60. When the operator shifts theleveroutward to the driving side 50 of the clutch, and thus rotate theca1ndisk 68 to aifectthe nail-separating mechanism and at the same timerotate the gear 40 to actuate the loading mechanism, the gear 88 anddisk 96a're together turned anticlockwise, as viewed in' Fig. 5.; Theprojection '94 lies at the leftof the slot 92,'and,thespring 98, isunderits normal tension; Inwthis roe tation, the'projection106 leavestheroll 112 the lever not being affected bythissince ltllS locked out bythe projection 66 riding upon the face of the disk68. hen the-deliveryof nails has been effected by the loader-block, the lever 60 is releasedto allowzthe loader block to be returned to its nail-receiving position.The consequent engagement of the driven clutch member 46 with thedriving member 48 is permitted by the entrance of the projection 66 intothe depression in the disk 68, and the actuating gear 88 and disk 96 arerotated oppositely to the direction during nail-delivery, the roll 112now being in contact with or in proximity to the plane surface of thisdisk at the foot of the cam-incline 108. As the loader-block movesrearwardly, the incline 108 strikes the roll .112, and, on account ofthe steepness. of the angle which it makes with the surface of the disk,holds the latter against rotation and allows the slot 92 to travelclockwise past the projection. At this time, a further tension isimparted to the spring 98. When the'left-hand end ofthe slot has reachedthe projection, the disk 96 is positively rotated and the end of theincline- 108 is advanced to the roll 112. Just at the time the finaldisengagement of the clutch: member 46 is being effected by the actionof the cam-incline 108 upon the lever 60, were there no other forceavailable than that ex"- erted by themember itself, there would be atendency for the teeth of the clutch to strike and chatter whilerotating; .but the force which has been imparted to the spring 98, plusthat which it hadinitially, is suflicient to urge past the roll 112 theend of the steeper incline 108 and then the more gradual shrface 110.Atthe time of spring-action, th projection 94 moves clockwise throughthe slot 92. The torsion of the spring continues the movement of thedisk until the projection 106 has completely withdrawn the driven clutchmember 46 from the driving member 48 and continues to hold it in aneutralposition until the next cycle of the mechanism.

Returningto the nail-separating mechanisms A, and considering one ofthese only,

since they may be substantiallyidentical,

there is supported opposite the raceways a readily removable end block114, in the inner face of which are downwardly extending recesses 116respectively 'alined with the raceway-slots and leading to the tubes 80.A similar structure is disclosed in Letters Pat- 'ent of the UnitedStates No. 1,002,422,

lVlcFeely, September 5, 1911. Guided in the distributor-frame, at theinner side of the end block and below-the raceway-ends, is ,acarrier-slide 118 having at its opposite ex tremities forwardlyextending arms 120, 120. Each arm has a perforated enlargement dividedat122and provided with a clamping. screw 124. Within theenlargementisiin held a stud 126, from which rises an eccentric projection 128carrying a transversely grooved holder 130. By variation in the angularpositions of the eccentrics, independent adjustment of the opposite endsof the holder with respect to the extremities of the raceways is madepossible. In these alined grooves in the holders of the two arms 120 issecured a plate 182, in which, or in a series of applied plates 134, areformed nail-separating slots 136, one of which cooperates with eachraceway. Each slot is inclined at an acute angle to the edge of theplate'adjacent to the ends of the raceways, and is of such width that itwill permit the shank of a nail to pass while the head is supported onthe top of the plate at opposite sides of the slot. At the forward endof each raceway-slot is an enlargement 138, which is of sufiicientdiameter to permit the nail-heads to pass through it. In the movement ofthe carrier-slide and plate, each opening 138 is brought intoregistration with one of the recesses 116 in the end block. Eachseparating slot is carried by the actuating mechanism of the plate intothree positions, one appearing in full lines at a in Fig. 3, and inwhich the nails are received from the raceway; an intermediate position,shown in dotted lines at b at the right, in which a nail has been pickedby the separat ing point 140 of the plate and temporarily held fordelivery; and a third position, indicated in dotted lines 0 at the left,and in which the opening 138 delivers the nail to the correspondingrecess 116 and its tube 80. Into the slot 83 of the link 82,reciprocated by the cam 68, extends a pin 142 fixed in the carrierslide118. Contact of the left end of the slot (Fig. 1) with the pin moves theseparatorplate to position a by the full throw of the cam 68. An arm 144projects outwardly from the slide, and is acted upon by a plunger 146and a spring 148 movable in the distributor-frame, the spring tending tocarry the arm into contact with an adjustable stopscrew 150 and to shiftthe separator-plate to position 0. The spring is compressed and madeready for action by the previously described travel of the slide withthe plate to position a. After the cam 68 has presented its maximumradius to the lever 74 and its periphery retreats therefrom, the slide118 is urged from the nail-receiving position a of the slots 136, underthe influence of the spring 148, and the points 140 separate theterminal nails from the raceways. Because of this actuation of theseparating device by a'yieldable member, no injury to the mechanism willresult if the nails clog. When the separator-slot reaches position Z),the travel of the slide is arrested by the hooked end of a pivoted latch152. The latches for both separating mechanisms A, A arepreferablysecured to a horizontal shaft 158 journaled in thedistributor-frame. Each latch has been riding against a surface 154 atthe under side of the slide, and in position 6 contacts with a shoulderat the end of such surface. The cam 68 rotates to the initial positionand is stopped by the projection 66. The movement of the link 82continues under the influence of the spring 78, as the lever follows thecam. The elements are now in the relation illustrated in Fig. 1, therebeing a space between the left-hand end of the slot 83 and the pin 142,through which the latter may travel when the slide is released from thelatch 152. Against the outer extremity of one latch, and extendingbeneath it, rests a head 156 carried by a vertical rod 158. The lowerend of the rod is articulated to the rear of the treadle 20. When thetreadle is depressed for the purpose of supplying power to the nailingmechanism, the latch is turned upon its pivot by the rise of the head torelease both slides, and each separator-plate is urged by the spring 148to position 0, delivering the separated nails to the recesses 116 andtubes 30. Through the latter, they fall to the loader-block 34, which isnow in receiving position beneath the footplate 32. Because of thepartial reverse movement of the separator-plate, under the control ofthe cam 68 and intermediate connections, a portion of the expansiveforce of' the spring has been lost, though it was fully available duringthe picking off of the nails from the raceways. Consequently, when theslide is stopped by the screw 150, the shock is not great enough tocause the nails to be displaced from the slots in the plate.

After the drums 24 of the distributor have been supplied with nails, theoperator may wish to employ for attaching a small number of heels, as inrepair work, a different size of nail. In this case, he may disconnectthe treadlo 20 from the separating mechanisms A by moving the rod 158rearwardly about its pivotal connection to the treadle. This is shown asaccomplished by a rod 160 guided for horizontal movement in thedistributor-frame and connected at 162 to the treadle-rod, which passesthrough an opening it. The rod 160 has, at its forward extremityconvenient for manipulation by the operator, a handle 164. Secured tothe handle is a spring-latch 166 arranged for engagement with either oneof two depressions 168 formed in the frame above the rod 160. When thelatch is in the forward one of these depressions, the head 156 is heldin co-operation with the separator-latch 152, so this is released uponthe treadling of the machine by the operator. When the latch 166 is inthe rear depression 168, the head is moved out of alinement with theseparator-latch. Consequently, the depression of the treadle has noeffect upon the latch, the rod 158 rising idly. As a result of this,vactuation of the nailing mechanism will not cause the separating devicesA, A toact.

Theoperation of'the machine may be summarized as follows: Normally, theloaderblock 34 is at the rear of its travel, resting beneath thefoot-plate 32 and containing a load of nails. These nails were suppliedduring a previous cycle of the machine from'the drums 24, which had beencharged with the proper sizes. Each separator-plate 132 is in positiona, or that in which it delivered the nails through the tubes 30 tothefootpiate. The driven clutch member as is in its neutral position,held away from the driving member 48 by the contact of thecam-projection 106 of disk 96 with the roll 112 upon lever 60. Theoperator takesa shoe and the heel which is to be attached'to it, and,before jacking the work, moves the lever 60 outwardly,pro-

ducing engagement between the driven member 46 and the driving member 50of clutch C. The rotation of the cam-disk 68, resulting from this, looksthe clutch by contact of the side of the disk with the lever-projection66, while the periphery of'the disk, through the intermediateconnections, carries each separator-plate to position a, and then allowsit to be-returnedby the spring 148, picking off a load of nails intotheslots 136 and holding them there while the separator-plateslide isretained by the latch 152 in position b. At the same time,the gear 40 iscarrying forward, the'loader-block to a point over the jack 12, wheretheshutter36 is tripped and the contained nails delivered to the jack.After a single'rotation of the disk 68 hasbeen com- :pleted,theprojection'66 enters its depression and causes the lever to be movedto the -rightby the spring 6d (Fig. 2). Since the projection 106 waswithdrawn from the roll 112 of the lever during the advance of theloader-block, this movement of thelever is not interferred with. By it,the driven clutch member 46 is caused to engage the driving section 48rotated oppositely to the section 50. This restores the'loa'der-block toits normal position beneath the foot-plate. During this travel of theloader-block, thecam-projection 106 is again approaching the lever-roll112. By the resistanceoffered by the roll to'the rotation of the disk96, the latter is first held back and the spring 98 is put undertension,

and this is utilized at the end of the disengaging movement of theclutch member'416 to completely withdraw it fromthe member 48 and carryit to a neutral position, where it is retained by the cam 106. If, forexample, repair work is to be done, employing other nails than arecontained in'the drums 24:, a movement of the handle 164; rearwardlythrows the head 156 out of active co-operation with the latches 152controlling the separator-plates 132. Therefore, treadling the machineto actuate the nailing mechanism leaves .the distributing -mechanismundisturbed.

Under these conditions, the loading is done manually. After shifting-thelever6O and to clamp the heel. upon the shoe, and then, upon continuedmotion ofthe treadle, causes engagement ofthe clutch 18 and theactuation of the drivers 14 to insert the nails and com! plete' theheel-attaching; operation. As the rear extremity of the treadle movestotrip the clutch, rod 158 rises, and the head 156 withdrawsthe latches152 from their slideretaining position. This permits each sepa rator-plate tobe moved by itsspring l4r8 at less than its full tensiontoposition "c, which is determined by contact of the slide withthestop-screw 150. In this position, the nails,

which in position b were held at intermediate points-in the slots 136,are allowed to fall through the enlargements 138- and end+block recesses116 tothe tubes 30. These discharge them through the foot-plate intothe-loaderblock, which is waiting to receive them. This delivery beingdependent upon the putting of the nailing mechanism into operation, :nonailsleave the separator-plate until the previous load has beendriven'from theijack into the work. Consequently, double loading -isprevented. If the operatorthrowsthe lever 60 a second time after theremoval of a heeled shoe from the jack and before depressing the treadlethe separator-plate merely rec procates-idly, the contained load ofnails preventing the entrance of another load intothe slots 136.'The-loader bl'ock will correspondingly'travel back and forth but willcontain no nails after the load is delivered. Upon removal of the workfrom the jack, the machine is ready for another operation.

Having described my invention, what -I claim asnew: and desire tosecurebyLetters Patent of the United States is l 1. The combination witha raceway arrangedto conduct aseries-of nails hanging by their-heads, ofa movable nail-delivering device co-operating with one extremity of theraceway to successively separate terminal nails of the series, means.for movingthe delivering device, means for retaining the deliveringdevice with the separated nails against movement, and means arranged to7 release the retaining means and leave the delivering device freetoact.v

2. The combination with a raceway, of a movable nail-delivering deviceco-operating therewith, a spring co-operating with the deliveringdevice, means for moving the delivering device and thereby "energizingthe spring, means for latching the delivering deivice with the springenergized, and means ar- .rangedvto release" the latching means and a1-i so low the spring to actuate the device and deliver the nail 3. Thecombination with a raceway, of a movable nail-separating deviceco-o-perating therewith, a spring co-operating with the separatingdevice, means for moving the separating device and thereby energizingthe spring, means for latching the separating device with the springenergized, and operatorcontrolled means for releasing the latchingmeans.

4. The combination with a plurality of raceways, of a plate movableacross the ends of the raceways and having nail-receiving slots foralinement therewith, a spring for moving the plate to separate thereceived nails, and a latch for holding the plate with the springenergized.

5. The combination with a plurality of raceways, of a plate movableacross the ends of the raceways and having nail-receiving slots foralinement therewith, a spring for moving the plate to separate thereceived nails, a latch for holding the plate with the spring energized,a treadle, and connections between the treadle and latch.

6. In a nailing machine, nailing mechanism, actuating mechanism, meansfor supplying nails to the nailing mechanism and including a movablenail-separator, means for retaining the separator against movement, anda member arranged to both cause the connection of the actuatingmechanism to the nailing mechanism and move the retaining means torelease the separator.

7. In a nailing machine, nailing mechanism, actuating mechanism forthenailing mechanism and including a clutch, means for supplying nails tothe nailing mechanism and including a movable nail-separator, a springformoving the separator, a latch for the separator, a treadle, andconnections between the treadle and the clutch and latch.

8. In a nailing machine, nail-ing mechanism, nail-supplying meansincluding separatmg mechanism and transferring mechanism, means commonto both for controlling the'action of the separating mechanism andtransferring mechanism, and means common to both for controlling theaction of the separating mechanism and nailing mechanism. 9. Ina nailingmachine, nailing mechanism, nail-supplying means including separatingmechanism and transferring mechanism, means common to both forinitiating the action of the separating mechanism and starting thetransferring mechanism, and means common to'both for causing thecompletion of the action of the separating mechanism and starting thenailing mechanism.

10. In a nailing machine, nailing mechanism, a nail-distributor, anail-loader, a lever arranged for manipulation by an operator to controlthe action of the distributor and loader, and a treadle arranged tocontrol the action of the distributor and nailing mechanism.

11. In a nailing machine, nailing mechanism, a nail-distributorincluding a movable separator, a spring arranged to move said separatorin one direction, a latch for the separator against the energy of thespring, a loader arranged to transfer separated nails to the nailingmechanism, a member arranged to control the energizing of the spring andthe action of the loader, and a member arranged to control the latch andthe action of the nailing mechanism.

12. The combination with fastening-insert ing means, offastening-supplyin means, means for transferring supplied fastenings tothe inserting means, power means for actu ating the transferring means,operator-controlled means for governing the application of power to thetransfer ing means, and means for preventing a second delivery offastenings to the'inserting means until the previously deliveredfastenings have been inserted.

13. The combination with fastening-inserting means, offastening-supplying means in cluding separating mechanism, means fortransferring separated fastenings to the inserting means, power meansfor actuating the inserting means, separating mechanism and transferringmeans, operator-controlled means for governing the application of powerto the transferring means and separating mechanism independently ofpower applied to the inserting means, and means for prevent ing a seconddelivery of fastenings by the transferrin means to tae insertin meansuntil the previously delivered fastenings have been inserted.

14:. In a nailing machine, nail-driving mechanism, a nail-distributorincluding a nail-separator, a nail-loader for transferring separatednails to the driving-mechanism, means for actuating the loader under thepower of the machine, a member controlled by the operator for governingsuch application of power to the loader, and means for preventingrepeated action of the separator until the previously separated nailshave been driven.

15. In a fastening-inserting machine, fastening-supplying meansincluding separating mechanism and transferring mechanism, means foractuating the separating mechanism and transferring mechanism under thepower of the machine, a member movable by the operator for governing theapplication of power to the mechanisms, and a member movable by theoperator to control the completion of action of the separating mecha-1118111.

16. In a nailing machine, nail-driving mechanism, a nail-distributorincluding a nail-separator, loading mechanism for transferring separatednails to the driving mechalla'u able by the operator to govern theapplication V of power to the driving mechanism and for controlling thecompletion ot operation of the separating mechanism.

17. The combination with a racewa oi 3 movable nail-separating deviceco-operating therewith means arran ed to move the se aarating devicethroughout its entire travel in one direction, and means for moving theseparating device throughout its travel in the opposite direction, thefirst-mentioned means retaining control of the separating device duringsuch reverse travel.

18. The combination with a raceway, of movable nail-separating deviceco-operating therewith, a spring co-operating with th separating device,and means for moving the separating device in one direction and therebener 'izin the sprin said sarin bein a b L b9 0 arranged to move theseparating device throughout its travel in'the opposite direction, for aportion of said travel under the control of the moving means and for theremainder independently of the moving mean.

19. The combination with a raceway, ofa movable nail-separating deviceco-operat .ig therewith, a spring co-operating with the separatingdevice, means for moving the separating device in one'direction andthereby energizing the spring, said spring being arranged to move theseparating device throughout its travel in the opposite direction, for aportion of said travel under the control of the moving means, and meansfor removing the separating device from the control of the moving meansand for thereafter permitting the spring to act.

20. The combination with a raceway, of a movable nail-separating deviceco-operating therewith, a spring co-operating with the separatingdevice, means for moving the separating device in one direction andthereby energizing the spring, said spring being adapted to move theseparating device throughout its travel in contact with the movingmeans, a member arranged to retain the separating device against travelwith the moving means, and means for releasing the separating devicefrom the retaining member.

21. The combination with a plurality of raceways, of aplate mounted toreciprocate across the ends of the raceways'and having nail-receivingslots for alineinent therewion,

" means for moving the plate in. one direction to bring the slots intonail-receiving relation, a spring for moving the plate in the oppositedirection to separate the nails, a latch-for the plate, the moving meanscontrolling the effect of the springuntil the plate is engaged by. thelatch, and means'fon releasing the latch to permit the spring to.actuate the plate independently of the moving means.

.22. The combination with a plurality of "raceways, of. a plate mountedto reciprocate across the ends otthe raceways and having nail-receivingslots for. alinement therewith, a cam and connections including aslotted link for moving the plate in one direction to bring the slotsinto nail-receiving relation, a spring for moving the plate in theopposite direction to separatethe nails, a latch for the plate, the linkcontrolling the effect of the spring until the plate is engaged by thelatch. andmeans fol-releasing the latch to permit the spring to actuatethe plate independently of the link.

23. The combination with a raceway, of a nail-separator co-operatingwithtthe raceway, a movable carrieruponwhich the separator is mounted,and means arranged to vary the position ofthe separator upon the carrierand to retain it against movement thereon. i

24. The combination with. araceway, of a carrier-slide movabletransversely of the raceway, a nail-separating plate co-operating withthe raceway, and an ad usting device 'mounted upon the carrierrslide andconnected to the plate.

.25. The combination with a plurality of raceways, ofa'carrier-slide'movable transversely of the raceways, a nail-separatingplate having a slot for co-operation with each operator-controlledmember a governing said connections, connections between-the member andnail-supplying mechanism, and means arranged to render the connectionstothe nailsupplying mechanism effective or inetl'ective. 27. In a nailingmachine, nailing mechanism, nail-supplying mechanism, actuatingmechanism, connections between the actuating nechanism and nailingmechanism, an

operator-controlled member governing said connections, connectionsbetween the member and nail-supplying mechanism, and a handle joined tothe connectionsto thenail-supplying mechanism and arranged to move saidconnections to diiierent positions.

28. In a nailing machine, nailingmechanisin, actuating mechanism for thenailing mechanism including a clutch, nail-distributing mechanismincluding a separating device and a latch therefor, atrea'dle joined tothe clutch, connections .from the treadle to the latch, and meansarranged: torender the conpectlions efiective or ineffective to releasethe ate 1.

29. In a nailing machine, nailing mechanism, actuating mechanism for thenailing mechanism including a clutch, nail-distributing mechanismincluding a separating device and a latch therefor, a treadle joined tothe clutch, a rod connected to the treadle and co-operating with thelatch, and a handle arranged to move the rod into and out of alinementwith the latch.

30. Nail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-deliveringmember, actuating mechanism for the member including a clutch, saidclutch having a driven member and a driving member, means arranged tonormally urge the driven clutch member to- Ward the driving member, andautomatic means for moving the driven member away from the drivingmember.

31. Nail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-deliveringmember, actuating mechanism for the member including a clutch, saidclutch having opposite driving members and a driven member arranged toengage either driving member, means arranged to move the driven clutchmember to ward the driving members, and automatic means for moving thedriven member to neutral position.

32. Nail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-deliveringmember, actuating mechanism for the member including a clutch, saidclutch having a driven member and a driving member, means for normallyurging the driven clutch member toward the driving member, and meansoperable by the clutch mechanism for disengaging the driven and drivingmembers.

33. Nail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-deliveringmember, actuating mechanism for the member including a clutch, saidclutch having a driven member and a driving member, a spring normallyurging the driven clutch member toward the driving member, a leverarranged for control by the operator to separate the driven and drivingmembers, and automatic means acting upon the clutch mechanism to effectits disengagement.

34. Nail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-deliveringmember, actuating mechanism for the member including a clutch, saidclutch having opposite driving members and a driven member arranged toengage either driving member, a spring normally urging the driven clutchmember toward a driving member, an operator-controlled member arrangedto move the driven member into engagement with the opposite drivingmember, and means acting against the spring for disengaging the drivenclutch member.

35. N ail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-deliveringmember, actuating mechanism for the member including a clutch, saidclutch having a driven member and a driving member, a spring normallyurging the driven clutch member toward a driving member, means operableby the clutch mechanism for disengaging the driven and driving members,and means for supplementing the power furnished by the clutch mechanismto effect disengagement.

36. N ail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-deliveringmember, actuating mechanism for the member including a clutch, saidclutch having a driven member and a driving member, a spring normallyurging the driven clutch member toward the driving member, meansoperable by the clutch mechanism for disengaging the driven and drivingmembers, and a spring arranged to be tensioned during the disengagementof the clutch and to exert the force thus generated to complete suchdisengagement.

37. Nail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-deliveringmember, actuating mechanism for the member including a clutch, saidclutch having a driven member and a driving member, a spring normallyurging the driven clutch member toward a driving member, means operableby the clutch mechanism for disengaging the driven and driving members,a spring having an initial tension and arranged to be tensioned duringthe disengagement of the clutch, said spring exerting its force tocomplete such disengagement, and means arranged to vary the initialtension of the spring.

38. Nail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-deliveringmember, actuating mechanism therefor including a clutch, said clutchhaving a driving and a driven member, means for producing engagement ofthe driving and driven members, a revoluble cam acting against saidmeans to separate the members, and connections to the driven member ofthe clutch mechanism for revolving the cam.

39. N ail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-deliveringmember, actuating mechanism therefor including a clutch, said clutchhaving a driving and a driven member, a spring for producing engagementof the driving and driven members, a revoluble cam acting against thespring to separate the members, and a spring for actuating the cam.

40. Nail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-deliveringmember, actuating mechanism therefor including a clutch, said clutchhaving a driving and a driven member, a spring for producing engagementof the driving and driven members, an actuating member rotatable by thedriven clutch member, a disk rotatable adjacent to the member and havinga cam-projection, a shifting member connected to the driven clutchmember and co-operating with the cam-projection, a pin-and-slotconnection between the actuating member and cam-disk, and a springconnected to the cam-disk and actuating member.

41. N ail-supplying apparatus comprising a movable nail-deliveringmember, actuating mechanism therefor including a clutch, said clutchhaving a driving and a driven member, a spring for producing engagementof the driving and driven members, an actuating member rotatable by thedriven clutch member, a disk rotatable adjacent to the member and havinga cam-projection, a shifting member connected to the driven clutchmember and co-operating with the cam-projection, a pin-and-slotconnection between the actuating member and cam-disk, a spring connectedto the cam-disk and actuating member, and means arranged to adjust thenormal tension of the spring.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRED L. MACKENZIE.

